GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Rookie quarterback Carson Beck thought he'd play in Thursday's Hall of Fame Game against the Carolina Panthers, but he didn't know he'd be the starter for the Arizona Cardinals.
With the Cardinals resting regular-season starter Jacoby Brissett and his backup, Gardner Minshew, Beck will get the nod. "I had no clue I was going to start," Beck said Tuesday.
"I really didn't have any expectations of going into any of this. Obviously, our schedule is absolutely crazy right now, practice, meetings with training camp and whatnot," he added. "But, yeah, I'm looking forward to it. I'm really excited."
The Cardinals' third-round pick said he doesn't get nervous for games and that will carry over into this week's nationally televised game, the only national game Arizona has this season.
The last time Beck said he was nervous before a game was 15 years ago when he was 8 before a Pop Warner city championship.
"I don't know, it's a game at the end of the day, get to go out there, have an opportunity to have fun, play with your teammates, and again, play the game that I love," he said. "So, again, it's what I love doing. So, not really any nerves, more excitement than anything."
A productive day for Beck won't necessarily be determined by whether the Cardinals win.
"Great execution. It all starts with that position, being able to call the play, comfortable with the play, make sure everybody's getting up to the line, great cadences, kind of all those little basic steps there, and then just smart sound decisions," offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett said. "I mean, the guy's been working really hard. I think everybody's really excited for this first opportunity to have an extra opportunity. So, it'll be fun to see him go out there."
With Thursday night being the first of four preseason games for Arizona and, obviously, not counting toward the standings, Beck's operation will be the most important part of his showing at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Field in Canton, Ohio.